Yann Bisseck: Inter Milan’s Defensive Rock Destined for the Top
Name: Yann Aurel Bisseck
Club: Inter Milan
Nationality: Germany
Position: Centre-Back
Preferred Foot: Right
Height: 194 cm (6ft 5’)
Age: 24
In a European football landscape filled with renowned and highly rated centre-backs, exceptional defensive talents are spread across the continent’s top five leagues. Among them, an emerging star, Bisseck stands out as one of the finest examples of the modern ball-playing centre-back.
Yann Aurel Bisseck born on November 29, 2000 in Cologne, Germany, (the same year as Gladiator hit cinemas). He has emerged as a key figure in Inter Milan’s defensive setup during the 2024/25 season. A product of FC Köln’s youth academy, coming through the ranks at his local club before making history as the club’s youngest-ever debutant at 16 years and 28 days in a Bundesliga match against Hertha BSC on November 26, 2017 as well as the youngest-ever German at that time.
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Despite those early milestones, Bisseck found opportunities limited at the RheinEnergieStadion and was sent out on loan several times. Now, at 24, the German centre-back of Cameroonian descent solidified his place under Simone Inzaghi at Inter Milan, while also earning his first senior call-up to the German national team in March 2025.
Career Journey and Arrival at Inter Milan
Bisseck’s journey to Serie A stardom began in Germany with his local club, Cologne. In January 2019, he joined then second-tier Holstein Kiel, where he made three first-team appearances, before spells at Dutch outfit Roda JC and Vitória de Guimarães in Portugal where he reportedly considered hanging up his boots, despite being only 19 at that time, the German wasn’t happy with his professional career but it didn’t end there and was followed by a stint in Denmark’s Superliga, where he made 62 appearances.
It was at Aarhus in Denmark where Bisseck’s career took a drastic leap forward, however. After initially impressing on loan during the 2021/22 season, the Superliga side made the move permanent in July 2022. An impressive second season in Denmark saw Europe’s elite clubs looking for his signature. His performances caught the eye of Inter Milan, who signed him on July 12, 2023, for a reported €7 million with bonuses, securing his services until 2028.
Bisseck made his Inter debut in a 2-0 win over Monza on the opening day of the 2023/24 season and earned his first start in a 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory against RB Salzburg on November 8, 2023; a maiden season which saw Inter win the Supercoppa Italia and the Scudetto. Bisseck played his part in the latter success, featuring in 16 games and scoring twice.
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Fast forward to the 2024/25 season, and Bisseck has become a reliable option in Inter’s backline, often deployed as part of a three-man defense in Inzaghi’s preferred 3-5-2 system. It was a season that brought promises but in the end it was one of glorious failure. Bisseck featured in 46 games contributing both defensively and offensively in a campaign where Inter Milan saw their treble tremble.
Defender with an Attacking Edge
According to data from Sofascore, Bisseck’s 2024/25 season in Serie A was impressive for a centre-back. He played 27 matches, conceding 18 goals as part of Inter’s backline while helping the team keep 12 clean sheets. His defensive solidity is complemented by an unexpected offensive contribution: Bisseck has scored three goals and provided two assists, bringing his total goal-and-assist tally to five for last season.
He took 30 shots in all competitions with seven of those shots on target, resulting in a shooting accuracy of 23.3%. While this indicates room for improvement in his finishing, his willingness to contribute offensively is evident he takes 0.9 shots per 90 minutes, a high number for a centre-back. His expected assists (xA) output of 0.20 per 90 minutes places him in the 78th percentile among Serie A players, showcasing his ability to initiate attacks from the back. He has further created 13 chances with three of those being big chances created.
Defensively, Bisseck has been a commanding presence. Standing at 194cm, he leverages his height to dominate aerial duels, a critical aspect of Inzaghi’s system, which often sees Inter defending set pieces and long balls, he has made 40 tackles and 31 interceptions in 2,860 minutes of football played last season. His passing accuracy and ability to play out from the back have also been notable, aligning with Inter’s possession-based approach. In the 2024/25 season he attempted 1,732 passes posing a 91.7% passing accuracy.
Tactical Role and Versatility
Bisseck’s role at Inter Milan last season was primarily as a right-sided centre-back in a back three, often alongside Alessandro Bastoni and Stefan de Vrij or Francesco Acerbi. His ability to step into midfield during build-up play has added a layer of flexibility to Inter’s system, allowing wing-backs like Denzel Dumfries or Federico Dimarco to push higher up the pitch. The below heatmap shows Bisseck’s tendency to drift into the right half-space, where he often initiates diagonal passes to switch play or find attacking midfielders like Nicolò Barella.
Photo: Sofascore
Bisseck has shown adaptability. He has occasionally filled in as a defensive midfielder in matches where Inter needed to shore up the midfield, leveraging his experience from earlier in his career when he played in more advanced roles. His two assists this season both coming from well-timed overlapping runs and crosses, demonstrate his ability to contribute to Inter’s attacking transitions, a trait not typically associated with traditional centre-backs.
Standout Moments and International Recognition
One of his standout performances was in the 2023/24 season where he rose highest to give Inter their winning goal a 1-0 victory over Bologna to go 18 points clear in their journey to winning the Scudetto. Another moment he won’t forget was the UEFA Champions League campaign he had in the just concluded season, he started 7 UCL games out of the 13 he featured in. Yann Aurel Bisseck won 73% of his duels in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals (8 out of 11), the best figure of any player with at least 10 duels in this year’s UCL semi-finals.
Bisseck’s form at club level led to his first senior call-up to the German national team in March 2025, under coach Julian Nagelsmann. He made his debut as a substitute in a 3-3 draw against Italy in the UEFA Nations League, after he replaced Antonio Rudiger in the 77th minute, a match that highlighted his composure under pressure.
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Certainly, the big center back would have loved to make his debut at a more familiar ground in the first leg when Germany won Italy 2-1 at the San Siro, regardless, the former U21 Germany captain was still proud to make his debut for the senior men’s national team. The Nerrazurri defender pulled out of the German team that were to face Portugal in the Nations League semifinal due to the muscular problems at the back of his right thigh.
An injury he sustained after a short appearance in the Champions League final, going on as a substitute in the 53rd minute, then off again in the 62nd. This also means, Bisseck will not feature against either Monterrey or Urawa in the Club World Cup for Inter, but is expected back as the tournament goes on. His inclusion in the national team setup at age 24, signals a bright future, especially as Germany looks to rebuild following their Euro 2024 campaign.
Challenges and Areas for Growth
Despite his progress, Bisseck has faced challenges this season. While Inter’s defense has been solid, the 18 goals conceded in his 27 appearances indicate that there have been moments of vulnerability some of which can be attributed to the high defensive line Inzaghi employs, leaving centre-backs like Bisseck exposed in transition. This was seen in the game against Lazio when Bisseck had a major switch-off to clumsily handle the ball inside the penalty area.
It was an entirely needless way to give Lazio the opportunity to equalize from the penalty spot in a game that mattered in a bid for Scudetto number 21. And it undid so much good work from the German international who admitted that after conceding the penalty he even forgot that he scored in the game. Improving his positional awareness could help him avoid such situations.
Bisseck is known for his recovery pace and ability to carry the ball forward out of defence and join attacks. He is comfortable in possession and prefers to pick short, safe passes as opposed to pinging long diagonals. Given Inter’s preference for playing a back-three system, Bisseck may need some time to adapt to the Germany set up. The national team have tended to adopt a back-four formation in recent games under Nagelsmann. Bisseck’s speed could be a valuable asset should a high line be implemented.
Looking Ahead: A Bright Future at Inter or Beyond?
Yann Bisseck is dubbed “Biz” at Inter Milan, a name carved from the word “business.” A sign of a stalwart defender with dreams that touch the sky. Before the pitch claimed his heart at sixteen, a cardiologist’s gown was his youthful dream. Bisseck had even started to study to become a doctor before becoming a professional footballer at 16. He blends brain and footballing talent, fortune favours some with gifts so rare.
In February, when asked of his future at Inter amid the rumours, he made it clear that he is happy at Inter Milan, stating: “If at some point in the future my best option is to return to Germany, I will return to Germany, if it’s Spain, it will be Spain. And if it’s staying here forever, I will stay here forever.”
“I will do what is best for me and where I feel best. But at the moment, it’s not a problem at all. I extended my contract very carefully, and I am incredibly happy at Inter. The most important thing is that we are both satisfied. I always wanted to study medicine. I’m sure I would have found something. But looking back, I am very, very happy that I don’t have to take exams but instead get to play football in front of 70,000 spectators.”
As things stand, various top clubs are looking to sign Bisseck this summer. According to the Corriere della Sera, defender Yann Bisseck is one player Inter will listen to offers for. The likes of Manchester United and West Ham United are reportedly interested in the 24-year-old. Bisseck who is likened to former Wolfsburg central defender Mickey van de Ven, now plying his trade in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, another team that is reportedly interested in getting the German defender.
Bisseck’s contributions has been a cornerstone of Inter Milan’s success, and his ability to chip in with goals and assists adds a valuable dimension to the team. At 24 years old, Bisseck is still developing, but his trajectory suggests he could become one of Serie A’s elite defenders. With three years remaining on his contract (until 2028), Inter Milan have a player who combines physicality, tactical intelligence, and a growing attacking threat. If Bisseck can refine his positioning and maintain consistency, he might not remain an “unsung anchor” for long, Cristian Chivu, his new manager may have a future star on his hands.
By: Phenom Akpan / @phenomakpan
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Francesco Scaccianoce – Inter